Good start: what this Ready Check result means
You've got some basics. Fill the gaps below and you'll be ahead of most households.
Five jobs to start with
Picked from the check's questions for this result. Each one is free and links to the official advice.
If a nuclear or missile alert came, do you know which room in your home you'd go to?
Pick the room today and tell everyone. Put a torch, radio and water there.
Free: Read how
Official advice: UKHSA (GOV.UK): What to do in a radiation emergency, Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency (MCF): In case of crisis or war (PDF, June 2026)
Do you know the UK advice 'go in, stay in, tune in', including how long to stay in?
Read the six steps on the Alert Action Card once, out loud, with your household.
Free: Read how
Official advice: UKHSA (GOV.UK): What to do in a radiation emergency
Do your phones get UK Emergency Alerts, and does everyone know what one sounds like?
Check alerts are on in your phone settings, and tell the family what the sound means.
Free: Read how
Official advice: GOV.UK: Emergency Alerts
Do you know how to report a power cut (105, or 03457 643643 in Northern Ireland)?
Save 105 in your phone now under 'A Power cut'.
Free: Read how
Official advice: GOV.UK Be Ready: Power cuts
Does everyone at home know how to turn off the water, gas and electricity?
Find your stop tap, gas meter handle and fuse box, and show everyone. It takes 5 minutes.
Free: Read how
Official advice: GOV.UK Be Ready: Flooding
If that area is your weakest
Only if you want a ready-made version. Everything above is free.
- Power and light: Action Cards (8 cards) (£4.99) is coming soon, not on sale yet. Join the Handbook waitlist and we'll email you once.
- Food and supplies: Prepared, Not Panicked bundle (£9.99). The Plan Pack, the Extended Disruption Plan and the Life Admin File (£15.97 bought separately).
Free: the Alert Action Card
The first six steps for a nuclear or radiation alert, a missile or air attack alert, no water from the tap and a power cut, on one page for the fridge, plus a phone version you can open offline. Every step checked against GOV.UK, UKHSA and Be Ready on 3 November 2026. No sign-up needed.
Print card (A4 PDF, light) Phone version (PDF)
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Other results: Just starting · Well prepared · Ready. Retake the check in 6 months: check water dates and test alarms when you do.
Civilian Survival Handbook is an independent UK site. This is not an official GOV.UK tool.